For those few (maybe foreigners like me) who did not know, it all went with a false terrorist alarm that went on in boston some time ago.

“It had a very sinister appearance. It had a battery behind it, and wires” are the infamous words that were used to describe a marketing contraption - a lite-bright - used to market nothing less than Aqua Teen Hunger Force (from Cartoon Newtork). LOLZ

This soccer one makes my list as one of the best ones around. I hope the kid in the blue jersey (the jerk) wont suffer long term issues due to this picture circulating - he might be one of the nicest kids ever and just making an odd face as he tries to avoid the goal keeper. But still, and unfortunately for him, he was immortalized in one of those “oh so typical expressions of American machismo competitiveness” that seems to go so well with huge suburbans, soccer moms and absent fathers.

Buddy, we love you, even if you are a jerk.

As for the below… I guess Dali used to pain with photoshop?

Which one of these three is your favorite?

Sources of the demotivationals are here, here and here.

Aaaaaw… in response of the recent outbreak of posting animal cuteness…

From CNN.com:

Oh, my! Three tiger cubs at a Kansas zoo are getting some maternal care from an unlikely source — Isabella the golden retriever.

Isabella, a golden retriever at the Safari Zoological Park, east of Caney, Kansas, nurses three white tiger cubs.

The tiger cubs were born Sunday at Safari Zoological Park but their mother soon stopped caring for them. Isabella had just weaned her own puppies and was able to step in.

Zoo owner Tom Harvey says, “The timing couldn’t have been any better.”

He says it’s unusual for dogs to care for tiger cubs, but it does happen. Isabella licks, cleans and feeds the cubs just like her own puppies.

Safari Zoological Park specializes in endangered species. It has leopards, lions, baboons, ring-tailed lemurs, bears and other animals.

NPD just released their June 2008 game sales results… lets check this out.

• Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3) — 774,600 units - gameranking (GR) 92%
• Guitar Hero On Tour (DS) — 422,300 - GR 78%
• Ninja Gaiden II (Xbox 360) — 372,700 - GR 92%
• Wii Fit (Wii) — 372,700 - GR 80%
• Wii Play (Wii) - 359,100 - GR 61%
• Battlefield: Bad Company (Xbox 360) — 346,800 - GR 85%
• Mario Kart Wii (Wii) — 322,400 - 82%
• LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventure (Wii) — 294,500 GR mid 70s
• LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventure (DS) — 267,800 GR mid 70s
• LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventure (PS2) — 260,300 GR mid 70s

Metal Gear Solid 4 ranks number 1, which is finally some good news for the PS3 owners. With the “PlayStation 3 80 GB Metal Gear Solid 4 Pack” bundle, the numbers hit 1 million units in the US.

LEGO Indiana Jones hits hard with 3 different systems, getting top ten placement on Wii, DS and Ps2. Guitar Hero shows how it can make the music experience work on the DS and GTA is nowhere to be seen.

You got any of these games?

I just wonder… where did those who bought it find a Mario Kart?!?!!?!?

And these are there Hardware Sales

• Nintendo DS — 783,000
• Wii — 666,700
• PlayStation 3 — 405,500
• PSP — 337,4000
• Xbox 360 — 219,800
• PlayStation 2 — 188,800

June was a Nintendo month.

What systems do you have?
—
Info Source: 1Up.

Ever been to a maid cafe’?

I finally managed to go to the Royal/T, the maid cafe in Culver City, after finding it closed the last time.

So I was in Culver… and I have to say, it was a nice experience. If I were to organize an event - especially one with a Japan or Tech or Trendy flavor to it - I would definitely think of the Royal/T. Even cause it’s the place where I found the awesome iPod Toilet (see that here) and the colorful Lolita Tea Party.

Situated in what looks like a refurbished and highly refined storehouse, The Royal/T has various elements that blend together into this hybrid venue for entertainment:

1. a Maid Cafe
2. a Art Gallery - with a lot of Takashi Murakami art.
   
3. a small goody shop

The Maid Cafe’ is refined, with the waitresses all dressing in the typical Akiba attire - but naye, they do not call you Master. (understand a bit more about Akiba here).

The quality of their bar is really good, the silverware fancy, the service kind and good looking.

I got a cappuccino and was extremely pleased with it… (and being Italian that should be a pretty good endorsement ^_^)

The bar area has a bit of detailing the gives it that touch of extra Akiba flavor, while probably trying to stay away from making it Otaku…

The cafe area is also placed in the middle of a series of expo rooms enclosed by plexiglass which give the whole place the feeling of being in the cafe of some fancy museum/art gallery… I’d like to buy some of these pieces, but I think they are uber expensive…

Weird one eyed thingy in a box…

And some more art.

Finally you can visit the store area… almost not a real store. It still feels like something that is put in place to try to capture the Akiba feel…

The prices on some of the statues on sale here confirm that the Royal/T does not want to turn into a Otaku-fest where LA otakus come to chill and by Akiba kind of stuff…

What? $145???!?!

Yeah, there are only 4 models in the store and the prices are quite high. That clearly states, this is not an Akiba shop.

On the other hand the maid cafe menu is good and not pricey… here is an excerpt.

Imho - the Royal/T is a great place for a bit of Akiba flavor but is definitely not the same as an Akiba maid cafe’. It’s more like a art gallery meets a maid cafe … the result is a great entertainment venue with a lot of style.

So, don’t go buy your manga and statues there, but do go experience some great art, atmosphere and a touch of Akiba while eating at a refined little restaurant/cafe.